Start to Finish: 7.05 - Return of the Rocket Men

Image (c) Big Finish Productions.

The Rocket Men was a bit of a wild card in The Companion Chronicles, introducing a new villain in the shape of a band of ruthless pirates who dress like radio serial hero Commando Cody and fly around on jet packs like absolute bosses. Well, apparently that's just what the public want, and they're back, from outer space, in Return of the Rocket Men.

As Dodo insists on celebrating Steven's birthday, the TARDIS sets down on a colony world. It seems quiet enough, but before long the peace is shattered by a crew of the most feared pirates in space. Their leader is a ruthless man named Van Cleef, intent on squeezing the colony for all that it is worth. The Doctor is wary of getting involved, only too aware how dangerous the Rocket Men are. So is Steven, who once had a run in with them himself, on his 21st birthday. On, he is starting to realise, this birthday.

Another twisty bit of timey-wimey this time out, as Steven Taylor - bruised from all the losses the TARDIS crew has suffered in his time - revisits his own past and accepts the possibility of death to save his own life. Of course we know he lives, but attaching this adventure near the end of Steven's run gives this the appropriate emotional weight as it contributes to his realisation that he needs to strike out on his own. The Rocket Men remain appropriately horrible, and Van Cleef is a worthy successor to the original play's Ashman. The colony world setting puts this generically alongside the western, rather than the more Die Hard style siege adventure of The Rocket Men, but then shifting genres is part of what makes Doctor Who what it is.

Next up, we get weird, as Leela returns from the dead and Louise Jameson performs The Child.